Lamb: Ascot United can meet the high standards of success

Yellamen boss is backing his charges to live up to expectations following a memorable year for the club.

Jeff Lamb (left) and assistant Paul McGrotty presided over a successful season for Ascot United in 2013/14

Ascot United have set high standards at the club following their successes of last season.

But manager Jeff Lamb is confident his squad can live up to these expectations – especially as the majority of those who enjoyed these achievements have agreed to stay at the Racecourse Ground next term.

Under Lamb’s stewardship, the Yellamen climbed to third in the Hellenic Premier Division, while they also defeated rivals Ardley United to lift the Challenge Cup at the start of May.

The United boss, who took the club to the last eight of the FA Vase in 2013, has made no secret as to how far he wants to take the outfit, and he is once again feeling optimistic ahead of the new campaign.

Lamb said: “We want to do better this year and win the league or another cup, do better than we did in the Vase last season and it would be good to look to have a run in the FA Cup.

“We also have a league cup to defend, so there is plenty there to set our standards to.

“We are looking forward to the season now and want to get started.”

Players such as Rob Saunders, Daryl McLean, Jermaine Roche and skipper Dave Hancock will all be pulling on the club’s colours once again this season – as will Ben Knight, who has returned following a year away at former club Bracknell Town and Chris Grace, who turned down a lucrative offer from a league rival to stay with United.

In bolstering his squad, Lamb also has Jesse Wilson back among his ranks following a spell at university, while Adam Harman has been brought in from Flackwell Heath.

“We wanted to add a couple,” added Lamb.

“We didn’t want to go mad, so hopefully we have almost done our business in the pre-season.

"Jay Burrell is back from his two-year lay-off and that is great news for us and Jesse Wilson is back, and for him to come back is a massive boost.

“You get plenty of phone calls over the rest period and players saying they have been offered this and that, but it’s what happens in football.

“Its part and parcel of the job and is a little bit annoying, but if you can keep them, which we have done, then it is all good.

“We have worked really hard pre-season and we didn’t go out to get a load of players, we wanted to keep the squad and add a few, and hopefully that is what we have done.”

Ascot continued their pre-season preparations on Tuesday night when they drew 1-1 at Fleet Spurs, with Roche netting for the Yellamen.

The club begins its Premier Division campaign away at Brimscombe and Thrupp on Saturday August 9.